Qualitative Data

Definitions of Qualitative Data

Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.

Topics that use Qualitative Data

• Geographical investigations − fieldwork: Investigating human environments (central/inner urban area OR rural settlements) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
• Geographical investigations − fieldwork: Investigating physical environments (river landscapes OR coastal landscapes) (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)

Related terms

• Primary Data
• Quantitative Data
• Secondary Data
• Observer Bias
• Representative
• Risk Assessment
• Systematic Sampling

Using Qualitative Data in the exam

Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.